UPDF soldier sentenced 30 years in jail for murder

Court sitting in Rwebisengo Town Council, Ntoroko district presided over by Brig. Geoffrey Mujuni sentenced Opio Damazio to 30 years imprisonment and his two accomplices 5 years each.

Court heard  that Robert Patrick Akugizibwe, 24, a resident of Hibale in Bweramule sub-county was killed by UPDF soldiers over a woman.

Prosecution told court that Akugizibwe fought with Private Damazio Opoi in a bar over a woman.

While delivering the ruling Brig. Mujuni condemned the act and said that the army cannot tolerate such acts of indscipne by some of it's officers.

Prosecution further told court that on 16th January after arresting Akugizibwe, they took him to the vice-chairperson of the village who declined to handle their matter as it was very late in the night. 

On the following morning, the residents recovered the headless body of Akugizibwe in River Semliki were they suspect that he was dumped by the soldiers.

The locals and police retrieved the body from the river and took it to Fort Portal regional referral hospital for postmortem.

Joseph Mujungu another resident of Bweramule condemned the murder and asked UPDF leadership to arrest the suspects.

The others convicted to five years in prison are private Wlfred Kilima and David Kyakulaba

The UPDF 2nd division spokesperson Capt. Steven Tumwesigye condemned the act by the soldiers.

"As UPDF we condemn such actions and it was indiscipline by individuals who have been prosecuted in court." Tumwesigye said.